What correction must be applied for each gram of glucose present in a sample?

The need for a correction factor in urine analysis is particularly relevant when measuring specific gravity, which can be influenced by the presence of substances like glucose. When glucose is present in urine, it contributes to the density of the sample, potentially leading to an inaccurately high reading of specific gravity if not adjusted for.

For each gram of glucose present in the urine sample, a specific correction factor must be applied to reflect its influence appropriately on the specific gravity. In this context, the accurate correction factor is 0.004. This means that for every gram of glucose detected, the specific gravity reading should be adjusted down by 0.004 to account for the false elevation caused by the glucose content.

Understanding this correction is essential for accurate interpretation of urinalysis results, especially in cases where glucose is a significant analyte, such as in the diagnosis and management of diabetes mellitus.